Food dehydrators preserve fruits, vegetables, and meats by removing moisture at low temperatures. While they consume far less energy than ovens, long drying sessions can still add up on your electric bill. This calculator helps you budget each batch of dried snacks or backpacking meals.
The energy a dehydrator uses equals its power rating multiplied by running hours. Converting watts to kilowatt-hours requires dividing by 1000. Multiply by your electricity rate to get cost. In MathML:
where is wattage, hours, and electricity rate.
Cut foods into uniform slices so they dry evenly, reducing overall time. Rotate trays halfway through the cycle to avoid cold spots. If your dehydrator has a timer, start it during off-peak hours if your utility offers lower rates. Thoroughly dry foods are shelf stable for months.
Suppose your dehydrator draws 600 watts for 8 hours at 12 cents per kWh. The cost is 0.6 kW × 8 hrs × $0.12 = $0.58. By knowing exactly how much each batch costs, you can compare the savings of homemade dried fruit with the price of store-bought snacks.
Experiment with different thicknesses and temperature settings to balance drying time with quality. This tool gives insight into the true operating cost so you can plan ahead.
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